Keratoconus

Keratoconus Treatment and Management Hazle Township and Stroudsburg

Dr. James Deom specializes in the treatment and management of Keratoconus and lectures nationally and internationally on the treatment of Keratoconus with sclera lenses.

Below is a link to an episode of Eye Care today with one of the many Keratoconic patients receiving sight preserving, life changing eye care correction by Dr. Deom with Scleral lenses.

Keratoconus, often abbreviated to “KC”, is a non-inflammatory eye condition in which the normally round dome-shaped cornea progressively thins causing a cone-like bulge to develop. This results in significant visual impairment.

The actual incidence of KC is not known. It is not a common eye disease, but it is by no means rare. It has been estimated to occur in 1 out of every 2,000 persons in the general population. Keratoconus is generally first diagnosed in young people at puberty or in their late teen’s. It is found in all parts of the United States and the rest of the world. It has no known significant geographic, cultural or social pattern.

In the early stages, eyeglasses or soft contact lenses may be used to correct the mild nearsightedness and astigmatism caused in the early stages of keratoconus. As the disorder progresses and the cornea continues to thin and change shape, rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses are generally prescribed to correct vision more adequately. The contact lenses must be carefully fitted, and frequent checkups and lens changes may be needed to achieve and maintain good vision. Intacs, intracorneal rings, are sometimes used to improve contact lens fit.

Corneal crosslinking is a new treatment option under investigation to halt the progression of keratoconus. In severe cases, a corneal transplant may be needed due to scarring, extreme thinning or contact lens intolerance. This is a surgical procedure that replaces the keratoconus cornea with healthy donor tissue.